Electrolyzer



July 15, 1930. L. UGHETTI LA coRsA 1,770,789

ELECTROLYZ ER Filed May 3, 1929 Patented' July 1930 UNITED STATES LUIGI UGHETTI LA CORSA, F TURIN, ITALY ELECTBQLYZEB Application led May 3, 1929,l Serial No. 360,290,l and in Italy June 9, n1928.

The presentV invention relates to the electrolytio treatment of tin salts for the-purpose of separating tin vin metallic state therefrom, and it has for its object an electrolyzerwhich provides for easily recovering tin deposited on the cathode.

In the annexed drawing are illustrated by way of example two embodiments of an electrolyzer according to this invention, and

Figure 1 is a plan view of one construction;

Figure 2 is a transverse section thereof on line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section of a modied construction and Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of Figure 3.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the electrolyzer consists of a body,

- located on supports 1, which provides a semicylindrical pit 2 having two side troughs 3, 3'. Pit 2 is intended to contain a solution to be electrolyzed and it provides a cathode, for which reason it is made of or coated. with a layer of iron, copper, tin or lead (not shown) on its inside.

Inside pit 2 is arranged in any suitable manner an anode which -in the illustrated embodiment consists of a semicylindrical drum 4 of coal concentric with the internal surface of pit 2,1but which could have any other shape or be made Ain any manner.

It is only essential that intermediate the outer surface of the anode 4 and the internal surface of the cathode-pit 2 a free interstice is left, andthat passages 5 are provided in the anode to assist the circulation of the bath.

In the ends of pit 2 are mounted to rotate spindle 6 which may be utilized to support anode 4 by means of transverse bars 7 which are loose on said spindles and fastened to said anode, said spindles being, if desired, replaced by a through shaft. On spindles 6, or onfsaid through shaft, are keyed two arms 8 on which is fastened an insulating 'bar 9, extending in the longitudinal direction of the pit 2 and which may pass freely through the space between pit 2 and anode 4.

On its outer face said bar 9 carries a longitudinal rib 10 in which is inserted a blade 11 of resilient material, as rubber, intended means of which the frame comprising arms 8 and bar 9 may be caused to rotate around the axis of spindles 6, but of course the rotation of sald frame may be effected by means of a motor through the intermediary of suitable gearing.

The solution is introduced in the pit 2 and discharged therefrom by any suitable means,

and the electrodes consisting of anode 4 and cathode pit 2, or a layer coating it, are con: nected as usual with a supply of current (not shown) the passage of the current producing the separation of tin on. the cathode pro# vided by the surface of the pit 2.

When tin is to be removed from the electrolyzer, the frame comprising arms 8 and bar 9 is rotated in one direction or other, or alternately in both directions, or in a continuous manner; and then the blade 11 scrapes'the bottom of the pit 2 and removes therefrom tin which may be lifted up to the v edge of the it 2 and removed from it and, if desired, co lected in the side troughs 3, 3.

Pit 2, instead of having a semicylindrcal shape, could have a hemispherical shape or the shape of half of an ellipsoid, and then the anode, when consisting of a solid member made purposely, may have a similar shape to provide a space for the passage of member 9 intermediate its outer surface and the-bottom of the pit; said member 9, instead of being connected with two end arms, being then provided by a member having the shape ofa semi-circle or of a semi-ellipse connected directly with spindles 6. o

In the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4,4 the electrolyzer comprises a pit 2 carried by supports 1 and provided with a single collecting trough 3, and in said pit is mounted to rotate an anode which consists of a cylinder 4 of conducting material, as coal, provided with transverselfp assages 5 and driven in periodical or contiiuousrotation by. the square-section shaft 16 which isv journalled in bearings inthepit2.`

Along a generatrix of said cylinder is fastened a bar 13 of insulating material which carries a rubber blade l1 vintended to scrape the internal surface of pit 2; and at the two ends of the barthat is, in register with the heads of cylinder 4-said bar carries extensions 14 projectingin the direction of rotation of said cylinder (see Figure 4).

Bar 13 has preferably a rounded shape 0n its face lying above the edge of the trough 3 during the rotation of cylinder 4, as shown at 15, assumin the cylinder is rotating in the direction o? the arrow, to assist the material collected by said blade in falling down when it moves through the space intermediate the wall of pit 2 and the surface of cylinder 4 during the rotation of the-latter.

In any case the described electrolyzer overcomes diiiiculties found in large electrolyzers in respect of the removal of ,separated tin, and provides for collecting at the same time the entire amount of tin deposits on the bottom of the pit by a quick and easy operation,

it bein able to be collected in side troughs.

Ano e 4 may be made in different manners and it may be solid or consist of a shell or frame, or it may be replaced by receptacles containing the material from which tin is to be recovered. When the anode consists of a solid member, as illustrated, the further advantage is secured that the electrolyzer contains a very small amount of solution, this fact assisting the operation and improving the tin deposit.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1s 1. An electrolyzer comprising a pit having a bottom in the form of a concave surface of revolution and whichprovides a cathode, an anode member' in said pit, and means mounted to rotate around the axis of said inner pit surface and in contact with th same for scraping olf metal deposited thereon,

`2. An electrolyzer comprising a pit having a bottom in the form of a concave surface of revolution and which provides a cathode, a member in said pit providing an anode, anda member rotatably mounted in said pit in contact with the inner surface of the member mounted to rotate between said anode and pit bottom around the axis of said sur-4 face, a flexible pacln'ng carried by and eX- tending along said rotatable. member in position to contact along its extent with said pit surface, and means for rotatin said member to cause it to scrape olf meta deposited on -said surface.

4. 'An electrolyzer comprising a pit having a bottom in the form of a concave surface of revolution and which provides a cathode, a

member in said pit providing an anode, a bar extending along the bot-tom surface of said pit, a flexible packing carried by said bar in of revolution and which provides a cathode,

an anode member having ashape similar to that of said pit surface and mounted in the pit to leave an uniform space between it and the pit surface, and a member rotatably mounted in said pit in contact with the concave surface of the same, said member in its rotation scraping off the metal deposited on said surface.

6. An electrolyzer comprising a pit having abottom in the form of a concave surface of revolution and which provides a cathode, an anode member having a shape similar to that of said pit surface` said anode member being mounted concentrically with the axis of said pit surface in a manner to leave a space between it and the pit surface, arib on the bottom surface of said anode member contacting with said concave pit surface, and means for rotating said anode member.

7 An electrolyzer comprising a pit having 'a bottom in the form of a concave surface of revolution and which provides a cathode, an anode member having a shape similar to that of said pit surface, said anode member being mounted concentrically with'the axis of said pit surface in a manner to leave a space between it and the pit surface, a rib on the bottom surface of said anode member, a flexible packing on said rib contacting with said concave pit surface, and means for rotating said anode member.

8. An electrolyzer comprising a pit having a bottom in theform of a concave surface of revolution and which provides a cathode, an anode member in said pit, a member mounted for rotation around the axis of said pit surface and in contact with-the same and a projection at each end of said rotatable member extending in the peripheral direction of said pit surface and in the direction of rotation of saidl member.

9. A u electrolyzer comprising a .pit having a bottom in the form of a concave surface of .revolution and which provides a cathode, an

anode member in said pit, and a member mounted to rotate around the axis of said pit surface and in contact with the same, said rotatable member having a concave surface onvits side which is in leading position in its rotation.

10. An electrolyzer comprising a pit having a bottom in the form of a concave surface of revolution and which provides a cathode, a channel at one edge of said pit surface, an anode member in said pit, and means mounted to rotate around the axis of said pit surface and in contact with the same for scraping off into said channel the metal deposited on said surface.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature.

LUIGI UGHETTI LA CORSA. 

